Faith Seeking Understanding

by Clinton R. LeFort in Spirituality, January 16, 2008

Diligent inquiry into the truths of God require patient efforts, temperament suited for quiet study and the spirit of industry, which many lack. Thomas Aquinas indicates that God can be found in faith by all, even when they are hindered by these three dispositions.

Faith to the Rescue

Aquinas says because of these three reasons many would fail to find God and to find the natural happiness which all search for. Faith was given to men to save him from the possible failure of reason after a long search. Faith does not displace an indisposed temperament, but submits human nature to a supernatural virtue, which disposes that temperament by grace. Lastly, faith with not heal a persons laziness in the search for God, but charity will move his assenting will, so that the burden and sorrow which drags the souls down can find momentary relief by the promises of eternal life. Faith does not replace the diligent inquiry of theologians and philosophers, but give the soul these truths without the many years of study that would be required of one in search of them by reason alone.

Aquinas summarizes his position by saying that “accordingly the divine clemency has made this salutary commandment, that even some things which reason is able to investigate must be held by faith : so that all may share in the knowledge of God easily, and without doubt or error. Hence it is written (Eph. 4:17,18 NAB): “So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart” and (Isa. liv. 13 NAB): “All your sons shall be taught by the LORD ” (SCG,Bk 1,Ch4).

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God understands man better than he understands himself and should rightly be given the faith due to Him. In short, God doesn’t provide excuses for not searching for Him, but he gives Himself by faith so that they will “seek” and shall “find” without the possibility of failure of reasons efforts alone, indisposed temperament or laziness of spirit.

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